Inflammatory cytokines and stroke and its subtypes: a genetic correlation and two-sample Mendelian randomization...

Area of Science:

• Genetics and Molecular Biology
• Neurology
• Immunology

Background:

• The precise causal links between specific inflammatory factors and various stroke subtypes are not fully understood.
• Inflammation plays a recognized role in the pathophysiology of cerebrovascular diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential causal relationships between 41 inflammatory factors and the risk of stroke and its major subtypes (ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage).
• To leverage Mendelian randomization (MR) to analyze these associations using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data.

Main Methods:

• A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted.
• The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was the primary analytical approach.
• Sensitivity analyses were performed to ensure the robustness of the findings.

Main Results:

• Lower interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels were associated with an increased risk of overall stroke and ischemic stroke (IS).
• Higher levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-12p70 were linked to a greater risk of stroke and IS.
• Decreased IL-17 levels showed a potential association with a higher likelihood of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).
• Several other inflammatory factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were also implicated in the risk of IS.

Conclusions:

• Inflammatory markers significantly impact stroke development.
• These findings suggest that specific inflammatory factors could serve as potential therapeutic targets for stroke prevention and treatment.